HIV Patient Assistance Programs Get Boost from HHS

PhRMA April 25, 2013

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Washington, D.C. (July 23, 2012) — Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) President and CEO John J. Castellani issued the following statement today:

“We applaud the leadership of Secretary Sebelius in recognizing the importance of patient assistance programs for people with HIV who cannot afford their prescription medicines. PhRMA and its members will utilize the common online form for patients with HIV on its Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) website which has been in existence since 2005. The common online form is another way to help accelerate access to available programs.

“PhRMA and its members will utilize the form in a newly created section on the PPA website for patients with HIV. The PPA helps uninsured and financially struggling patients who lack prescription coverage get access to prescription assistance programs that offer medicines for free or nearly free. This is a free, confidential, easy to use service. PPA offers a single point of access to information on 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including nearly 200 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Since its launch PPA has helped connect nearly 7 million people to patient assistance programs that may meet their needs.

“PPA member programs offer more than 2,500 brand-name medicines, including a wide range of generics. The PPA also provides information on nearly 10,000 free health care clinics and has connected more than a quarter of a million patients with clinics and health care providers in their communities.

“Many patients with HIV have other conditions. By connecting to PPA they will be able to get access to programs that provide medicines that will be able to treat all their medical needs.

“Our industry looks forward to working with Secretary Sebelius to make sure that those without access to medicines for HIV will be able to get what they need.”

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $49.5 billion in 2011 in discovering and developing new medicines.